Nurses and suicide patients

Meerkat · Sep 29, 2005

I haven't read all the posts, so sorry if someone already said this, but it really burns me up that some nurses resent caring for attempted suicide pts. I've seen them choose the biggest NG tube they can find to 'teach a lesson' !

How dare they contribute to the stigma of mental illness by treating those pts as second class citizens. These pts are JUST as ill as any other!

Have a little freaking compassion!

mandrews · Sep 30, 2005

If I understand it right at my hospital we hold a suicidal at least 24hrs and if they insist on leaving we have to inform them we have to contact the police and they will be arrested. They usually stay.

gypsyatheart · Sep 30, 2005

Frolicking,

I am really sorry for your experience. I have no real insight as I do not work ER, but this behavior does not seem right to me.

In general it really saddens me to see the lack of resources for the mentally ill in most communities. There really is, still, such a stigma associated w/mental illness/behavioral health.

Frolicking · Sep 30, 2005

It's really sad because in general it's a great hospital. I've spent a good amount of time as a patient on the peds unit and I really respect their staff. It was my experiance there that made me want to be a nurse.

Lol I wish they would have given me a chance to be mistreated by a nurse . At least I would have gotten treatment.

I know it must be very frustrating to work with suicidal patients who don't always want your help but thanks for dealing with us.

Karine2 · Oct 4, 2005

no apologies needed and i didn't feel accused. i just didn't want to point out the "gallows humor" part of that post without re-acknowledging that i wasn't actually defending that kind of humor, just noting its inevitability - we are human.
i do think our macabre humor makes us better nurses because empathy is a commodity and you cannot give and give without having outlets to recharge.
but i agree that an outlet is one thing, using it as an excuse to deny or abrogate care is completely another.
i live in a college town with lots of students making suicidal attempts and/or gestures. i'm actually quite sympathetic. i feel blessed that my life has taken on more or less the wonderful template that it is. i can't imagine looking at living as anything but an awesomely wonderful experience and it saddens me that someone can get to the point where they can't feel my exuberance.
~faith,
timothy.

i have a unique perspective on this issue in that iahve both sides. i have been hospitalized on a medical unit after making a suicide attempt and i am now a nursing student. i spent many hours in the er before i was admitted to a unit and the nurse that i dealt with in the er was extremely hostile to me and dsownright rude and acted really ain appropriately to me. i was not being hostile or rude in any way. i was extremely upset and crying and felt physically horrible and could have used some empathy and support in the situation i was in. instead i merely got a guard, who psent hours watching me as i got sick and dizzy and watched me as i fell out of my bed.

empathy is one of the key skills nurses are supposed to have and use in their communicative interpersonal relations with patients and apparental this nurse needs a review of that. i can understand where some nurses come from in their hostility towards suicide patients especially if they are hostile but we really need to think about where they are coming from. we need to think what is going on their life theat made them feel so desparate that they felt this was the only thing left for them to do. they need empathy and understanding. this may not get through to them all, some are not at that point, but many are. patients who are adults and who are medically unstable due to whatever method they used in their attempt should have a guard appointed to them until they are out of danger. this i do agree with. it is not the job of nurses to keep their eye on pateints in this way.

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Oct 4, 2005

I deal with suicidal patients all the time, but I work in Geriatrics in an Assisted living facility! People tend to forget about geriatric suicides...very common and very overlooked!

It is hard to convience these folks that going on is worth it! "Okay take these 16 pills, I will clean your peri area after you go to the bathroom..wait a min, I have to help you with this hoyer because you can't walk...okay now why are you so depressed and want to die???"...not a very easy thing to show the delight and wonderfulness of life!

I tend to rely heavily on psych help, medications, lots of communication..and in some cases...well acceptance that they have the right to give up (most of my patients die from actually just giving up...declining treatments..which they have the RIGHT to do as long as they are mentally able)...not eating/drinking..etc... I do what I can in my power to talk to them about it...not give advise either way (because that would be from my perspective and not theirs...considering I wouldn't consider that option nor in their position...my feelings are void!). I treat the medical and emotional parts to the best of my ability, and most cases get hospice involved to help in this time of severe need!

I am a stickler for rules though, and do not deny or put off any treatments ordered...I go by the book, document like crazy, and usually talk with my residents about my professional role regardless of their choice of giving up or staying here! My job does not change...I address the emotional (or get help with proper disiplines), and physical..that is my job as a nurse while respecting the patients right act!

Hard catch 22 on these things....I do what I can within my profession to help...but it is the patient that chooses what they do with their lives...and sometimes, well...as wonderful as I can be...there are some things I just can't heal...